Clamp



NOV' l, 1932- F. R, SPURGEON ET Al. 1,886,132

CLAMP Filed Feb. 11. 193].

Kargeofz Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STAT-rs FRANK n. sPUnGEoN ANDSAMUELILYNCH, or saisine, omo

CLAMP Application med rebr'uar'yii, 1931. serial No. 514,975.

This invention relates to clamps and more particularly to clamps 'of the type commonly employed in clamping Wire fence fabric when it is desired to stretch the same preliminary to attaching the fence fabric to a fence post, and has for its objectthe 'provision of an improved clamp which may be easily and quickly placed in an operative position 0r removed from the fence Without the'aid of any tools.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, contains a minimum number of parts and is free vfrom bolts, screws and other similar parts.

`With these and other objects in view, which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel yfeatures of construction, combinations'of elements and arrangement of parts hereinafter to be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved clamp applied to a. wire fence fabric,

Figure 2 is va tranverse sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, l

Figure 3 is a. vertical sectionall view taken onthe line`3 3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is a. vertical sectional view of one end of my improved clamp Vand illustrating the manner in which my improved. clamp is applied to the fence fabric.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,-the numeral 1 refers tomy improved clamp in its entirety which may be applied as shown in Figure 1 t0 a fence fabric 2. The clamp 1 is formed to include clamping bars which may be referred to as the rear clamping bar 3 and the front clamping bar 4. The bars 3 and 4 are fo-rmed of metal, preferably steel, and are angle shaped in cross-section, the flanges on each bar being of substantially the same width as the corresponding flange on the other bar so that when the bars 3 and 4 are nested together as shown in Figure 2 the flanges 5 on the front bar 4 are of the same width as the flanges 6 on the rear bar 3, and the outer edges 7 of the front iianges will project abovethe outer edges 8 of the rear flanges 6.

lExtending transversely of the rear bar 3 and securedtothe' outer orrear side thereof in any suitable manner are straps or rods 9. 55 One end of each ofthe straps 9' terminates in a rearwardly*projecting hook 10 slightly above the edge 8 of the fiange. The opposite end of each of the straps`9 terminates iny an a'ngledportion 11. The angled portion lleX-tends substantially in the same direction as the edge 8 and is spaced therefrom as shownin Figures 2 and 3. We prefer that the-inner surface 12 of the angle portion 11 be fashioned so as to form a cam surface fas shown in Figure 3 and that the terminus 13 of the angle portion be slightly curved outwardly. l

Pivotally connected-to the hooks 10 asat 14 aref pulling elements or rods'l. The pulling elements 15 at their free `ends are provided Vwith hooksl `and are of a length greater than the width of the clamping bars'3- and 4. It is apparent that when the bars 3 and 4 are nested together as shown in Figure 2, the r pulling elements 15 may be moved so as to extend across the clamping bars and engaged with the cam surface 12 on the angle portions 11. The action of the cam surface 12 on the pulling elements 15 causes the pulling fifi' element to move against'the yedges 7 so that the front clampingbar 4 is by the Wedging action pressed against-the inner face ofthe clamping'ibar 3.

Carried by the clamping bar 3 at each end i5 thereof are hooking members 17. The hook members 17 are suitably attached to the outer or rear face ofthe bark3 at the junction of the two flanges V6 as shown in Figure l and each hook 17 vextends upwardly and "f' inwardly around the end of the bar 3 so that the free 'end18' ofthe hook is above and spaced from the junction of the flanges 6.

Preferably, the bar 3 is made longer than 9.,-, the bar 4 so that the bar 4 may be dropped between the ends 18 of thehoolrs 17 against kthe inner face of the bar3. It will be understoodh'owever,-that the bars 3 and `4 may-be employed of substantiallythe same rico length in which event the hook 17 may be emgloyed only at one end of the bar y reason of the hook 17 it will be` ob Served by reference to Figure 4 that in attaching the clamp to the fence fabric 2 the clampin bar 3 is positioned against the fence fa ric 2 with the edges 8 against or toward ythe fabric 2. One end of the bar 4 is lthen engaged behind the free end 18 of the hook 17. Then, by bringing together the free ends of the bars 3 and 4 the horizontal wires 19 of the fence fabric 2 are successively indented into the V-shaped face of the bar 3 and when the bars 3 and 4 have been placed parallel or nearly so, the pulling elements 15 may be swung across the bar 4 and engage behind the angle portions 11 which by reason of the cam action of the surface 12 securely clamps the fabric 2 bctween the bars 3 and 4.

The employment of the hook 17 permits the indention of the wires 19 to be made successively so that the application of the clamp tothe wire fabric may be accomplished with a minimum exertion of eil'ort by reason of the leverage action employed. This is particularly important when fence fabrics composed of heavy gauge Wire are encountered. With the improved device shown herein, however, even the heaviest of fence fabrics may be easily and quickly securely clamped between the bars 3 and 4.

After the fence fabric 2 has been clamped between the bars 3 and 4 as above described and the pulling elements 15 have been positioned behind the angle portions 11, chains 20 may be attached to the hook 16 by means of which the fence is stretched in the usual manner. After the stretching o )eration has been completed the clamp may be easily removed from the fence 2 by lifting upward on the pulling elements 15 and disengaging them from behind the portions 11 and permitting the bars 3 and 4 to be lifted away from engagement with the fence 2.

What 1s claimed is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of clamping bars angle shaped in cross section, one of said bars bein of greater length than the other, a plura ity of members extending transversely of the longer of said bars and secured to the outer side thereof, each of said members terminating at one end along one edge of said longer bar in a rearwardly projecting hook, the other ends of said members terminating in elongated end portions extending. substantially parallel with and spaced from the opposite edge of said last named bar, elongated clamping rods pivotally carried at one end by said rearwardly directed hooks and adapted to be positioned across said clamping bars with their free ends in engagement with said elongated end portions, and an u wardly and inwardly directed hook carried by the end of the longer of said clamping bars.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of interfitting clamping bars angle shaped in cross section, a plurality of members attached to the outer of said bars and extending transversely thereof, each of said members terminating at one end in a rearwardly projecting hook, the other end of each of said members being formed with an elongated portion extending along and spaced from the edge of the outer bar, clamping rods pivotally carried by each of said rearwardly directed hooks, said clamping rods being adapted to be positioned across the inner of said clamping bars with the free ends of the rods positioned between the edges of the last mentioned bar and the elongated portion of said member, and means for hingedlly connecting said clamping bars at their en( s.

3. A device of the character described, a clamping bar angle shaped in cross section, a plurality of clamping rods hingedly connected at one end to one edge of said clamping bar, the free ends of said rods being provided With hooks, a plurality of elongated hooks carried by the other edge of said clamping bar, a second clamping bar interfitting the first bar, said rods being adapted to engage the edges of said second bar for clampingly uniting the same with said first bar upon the positioning of the free ends of said rods within said elongated hooks.

4. A device of the character described, an angle shaped clamping bar, pulling elements pivotally carried at one edge of said bar and adapted to be positioned transversely of the bar, a second clamping bar intel-fitting thc first bar, elongated hooks carried by the opposite edge of said first bar for the reception of the free ends of said elements and to clampingly unite the second bar with said first bar, and means for hingedly and detachably uniting said clamping bars at their ends.

In testimony whereof we ailix our signin tures.

FRANK R. SPURGEON. SAMUEL LYNCH. 

